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Gathered in Doha for its annual general meeting, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts a return to profits in 2023 for airlines. The latter expect to find, this year, 83% of their passengers from before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Along with tourism, air transport is one of the sectors of the economy that has suffered the most from the restrictions linked to the health crisis. This year, the sector should still lose 9.7 billion dollars, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which brings together the vast majority of airlines around the world. But this is little compared to the 138 billion, lost in 2020, and the 42 billion in 2021.
« Sector-level profitability in 2023 looks within reach, as (companies) in North America are expected to make $8.8 billion in profits by 2022 “, remarks the IATA in a press release. In terms of turnover, the companies expect to return in 2022 to 93.3% of the levels of 2019. At 782 billion dollars, it will be a jump of 54.5% over one year.
This increase will be fueled by revenue from passenger transport, which will more than double over one year to 498 billion dollars, while those of freight will fall slightly to 191 billion dollars against 204 the previous year, but still at a “ dual level of 2019. Airlines had not expected such a rapid recovery. But with the lifting of restrictions around the world, the demand is there. This year, air traffic is expected to reach 83% of the pre-pandemic level.
The passengers are back, but the companies are short of staff: many employees left the sector during the two years of Covid. There is a lack of staff at the security gates, but also on the runways, for the transport of luggage and the reception of passengers. This raises fears, for this summer, of flight cancellations and endless queues.
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(and with AFP)